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Geocache Description:

Attention: this is a puzzle cache. The cache location is gleaned from the puzzle. Don't go to the posted coordinates unless you have a hankering for a water-logged root vegetable.

Well, just as with my cachecrostic, I see I'm not the first cacher to create what I'm calling a Crypticache. It does appear, however, that there aren't too many in the U.S., at least at first glance.

Like the acrostiche, the whole puzzle's a picture, so you can copy it and paste it somewhere else, if that helps in the printing.

I've been into cryptic crosswords for several years now, but this is the first one I've written. I think it's going to be easy for those of you who do them regularly. I'll be interested to see.

Update: Well, it would appear that there are very few regular cryptic doers in the local geocaching community. Don't let that stop you! Capiti can attest that it's a new way of thinking, but it can be very rewarding if you just give it a try.

For those to whom cryptic clues are daunting, I strongly recommend you try this puzzle after reading something like this informative primer at Wikipedia. The puzzle above uses almost every type of clue described therein. Look at the beginning and end of the clue and try to figure which is the more likely definition, then look for any likely indicator of wordplay.

And now that the race is over, it's time now for the following clarifiers to avoid anyone getting discouraged, and, yes, to even spur you to give this thing a try:

As stated in my first maintenance log, three of my anagram clues aren't strictly "American", at least as defined in the Wikipedia article. They're done the so-called "old" way.

6 Across might better be written "It is" rather than "It's".

15 Across is very hokey. I made up a techie verb.

In 16 Across, "dying" is an indicator of the abbreviation "d". (The part of speech makes it a little esoteric.)

4 Down is a bit of a stretch. It's a "sounds like" clue.

Some schools would say that I should have written 13 down as "Joint is strangely intense", or "Joint is intense—strange".

In 14 Down, "endlessly" refers to both ends.

And lastly, sixteen of the eighteen words in this puzzle can be directly related to geocaching. And even the other two can be, too, if you squint real hard.

So anyway, the solution will take you to a parking spot at

43º 4F.ATG
071º 3D.*#Y

where:

Letters correspond to the number of instances of same in the puzzle grid

* is the number of answers whose second letter is a vowel (not including Y)

# is the number of answers that end in a vowel (not including Y)

At this spot you will find the coordinates to the final cache about half a mile away. Please be wary of traffic, and stealthy as possible in both locations. Parking at the final is across the street.

Enjoy.

Update 8/29/09: I've decided to create a hint sheet for this cache. If you'd like to take it down a star and get the clues broken down for you, this is the link for you.